Advanced Sentence Structures

Posted in My Past

  1. Noun Clause

    Subj + (verb: think/believe/know/understand/realize/remember/guess…) + [(that/what/which/who/why/) subj + verb + …]

    • know: We know [that the earth is round].
    • know: We know [what the problem is].
    • know: We know [who stole the money].
    • know: We know [which car has the problem].
    • know: We know [why he was killed].
    • forget: He forgot [that he had an appointment].
    • forget: He forgot [which house it was].
    • forget: He forgot [why he was there].
    • forget: He forgot [who his friends were].
    • think: I think [that she is right].
    • believe: He believes [that hard work pays off].
    • understand: I understand [what the issues are].
    • realize: She realized [why we lost].
    • remember: I remember [that we met last year].
    • imagine: I imagine [that we are doomed].
    • suppose: I suppose [that is true].
    • guess: I guess [that is true].
    • discover: They discovered [why the sky is blue].
    • learn: We learned [that the earth revolves around the sun].
    • decide: He decided [that he would go to college].
    • show: The data shows [that the economy is terrible].
    • prove: The evidence proves [which player is the best].
    • say: She said [that she would be late].
    • tell: He told me [when it will happen].
    • explain: The teacher explained [that the test was postponed].
    • report: The news reported [why America was crumbling].
    • announce: They announced [that inflation will increase]
    • declare: He declared [that he was innocent].
    • claim: She claimed [that she saw a UFO].
    • admit: He admitted [that he was wrong].
    • deny: She denied [that she had stolen the money].
    • confirm: They confirmed [that the flight was on time].

  2. Subj + modal verb + main verb (original form) + (Rest of Sentence)

    (no “s” for third person singular)

    • Ability: can, could
    • Permission: may, might, can, could
    • Obligation: must, should, ought to
    • Probability: will, would, should
    • Possibility: may, might, could

    Examples:

    • She can speak three languages. (Ability)
    • You may borrow my book. (Permission)
    • They must leave now. (Obligation)
    • It will probably rain tomorrow. (Probability)
    • He might come to the party. (Possibility)
    • I could help you with your homework. (Offer)
    • Would you like some tea? (Polite request)
    • We should study for the test. (Recommendation)
    • You ought to apologize for your mistake. (Advice)

  3. Adverbial Phrase(Prepositional Phrase, Infinitive Phrase..etc), [Your Sentence]

    Prepositional Phrases

    Under the bridge, the trolls lived in their gloomy cave.
    After the storm, the air was fresh and clean.
    With a smile, she accepted the award.
    During the summer, we like to go swimming in the lake.
    Across the street, the bakery was filled with delicious smells.

    Infinitive Phrases

    Gerund phrases

  4. Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb

  5. Adverbial Clause

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    Subject (主语) + verb (动词) + (optional可用/可不用: object 宾语) + (subordinating conjunction 从属连词) + clause(主语 + 动词)

    Modifies the verb:

    A winner [practices] [until they feel tired].
    subj – A winner verb – practices adverb clause – until they (s) feel (v) tired

    I [became] an adult [when my wife gave birth].
    subj – I verb – became adverb clause – when my wife (s) gave (v) birth

    I will [work] [until I become rich].
    subj – I verb – will work adverb clause – until I(s) become (v) rich

    I’ll [come] [after I finish breakfast].
    subj – I’ll verb – come adverb clause – after I (s) finish (v) breakfast

    I [studied] [before I ate dinner].
    subj – I verb – studied adverb clause – before I (s) ate (v) dinner

    You [push] the button [if anyone moves].
    subj – You verb – push adverb clause – if anyone(s) moves(v)

    如果 subordinating conjunction 先开始的话，要用逗号:
    (subordinating conjunction 从属连词) + clause(主语 + 动词), Subject (主语) + verb (动词) + (optional可用/可不用: object 宾语).

    When my wife gave birth, I [became] an adult .

    [Before I ate dinner], I [studied].

    [If anyone moves], you [push] the button.

    [Since I want to be champion], I will [work] hard.

    [When the train stopped], the people [got] on.

    [When the bell rang], the students [rushed] out of the classroom.

    Modifies the Adjective:

    adjective + (subordinating conjunction 从属连词) + clause(主语 + 动词)

    The water was so [cold] that my teeth started chattering.

    She was so [tired] that she fell asleep on the couch.

    She was more [excited] than I had ever seen her.

    The cake was as [delicious] as she had promised.

    Modifies the Adverb:

    adverb + (subordinating conjunction 从属连词) + clause(主语 + 动词)

    She spoke so [softly] that I could barely hear her.

    He drives more [carefully] when it’s raining

    They arrived [earlier] than we expected.

    She sings more [beautifully] when she’s on stage.

  6. Perceived action

    Subj + Verb of perception + object + bare infinitive

    Focus on the observed action: The bare infinitive emphasizes the action itself, not the time it happened. It’s like a snapshot of what the person saw.

    “I saw him leave” means you witnessed the act of him leaving. It’s not about when he left, but that you saw it happen.

    • She heard the bird sing. (Not “sang”)
    • They watched the children play. (Not “played”)
    • I felt the ground shake. (Not “shook”)